Tumbling

I must say, it has been years since any book has touched me like this one. Philadelphia has been known for bringing such talented and amazing writers like the late August Wilson but Ms. Mc-Kinney /Whetstone is at the top of best writers. I love her style--- she takes her time with the novel, allowing you to know the characters and breath life into each one. Her amazing talent is story telling because she is able to involve you into this story and allow you to enter as a family member who will be moved and helped as she paints such a compelling story. She teases you by giving just enough to make you want more until at the end, you are in tears because everybody has found their purpose. Her talent to weave such a beautiful story that is rare and unusual and make you wait until the end when everything unravel is astounding. All the characters have their flaws but isn't this just humanity? For any of the characters that you might not like, she allows you to understand each one and find compassion in making you accept them. I must admit that Liz addiction to plaster was waaay over the top and I found such compassion rooting for Noon who needed the miracle that she received. I do find a few left dangling pieces that I would like to have solved: 1. Explaining how and how much damage was done to Fannie by Liz. 2. Whatever happened to Willie Mann? 3. Not enough was explained about Ethel's dysfunctional family. Ethel was so dysfunctional but turned out to be the glue to the story. My heart bleeds for some compassion and help that I hope she will receive in life to allow her to function. Again, Ms .Mc-Kinney Whetstone, this is a masterpiece of art and cannot compare to your other work. You have made me a fan and I look forward any and the rest of your work that you will share with us all. Thank you again for finally bringing a great novel that touches the heart.

Tumbling will tumble you through the lives of black folk and their community. This book is filled with a sense of purpose, love, commitment, loyalty, pain, family, acceptance, lies, betrayal, loneliness, and LAUGHTER! THIS ONE IS A MUST. The characters were truly VIVID! - and the story was EXCELLENT. Ms. Whetstone has a manficient talent not to mention excellent storytelling abilities. Although the book wasn't contemporary like most books are these days...the CHANGE WAS WONDERFUL! I agree with another reviewer that Tumbling is literature at it's best. You will truly be caught up in the tumblings of Lombard Street.Noon, Herbie, Fannie, Liz and oooooohhhh Ms. "Thang" Ethel will keep your entertained and wondering what's going to happen next!Once you finish you'll be wishing you lived with all of these characters. Noon is a fine example of black women of the past. We could all learn some lessons.GET THIS ONE! Ms. Whetstone...gurl you are soooo bad! LOL

Tumbling was a little hard to get into I will admit. But by the end of the third chapter I couldn't put it down. There was a down to earthness about the characters and a realness to the prose that I haven't seen in a while. I am tired of African-American contemporary writers who write about frivolous relationships and broken families. Tumbling is literature, I was not only introduced to memorable characters but a united community where the spiritual was almost more powerful than the natural. If you're tired of reading about ghettos and dysfunction in the black community pick up Tumbling. You'll be glad you did.